Common name: Sponges

Porifera, commonly known as sponges, are simple multicellular organisms found primarily in marine environments, although some species inhabit freshwater. They are characterized by their porous bodies and a unique feeding system that relies on filtering water through their bodies to extract nutrients. Sponges lack true tissues and organs, which distinguishes them from most other animal phyla. Their bodies are composed of specialized cells, including choanocytes that generate water flow, and amoebocytes that distribute nutrients.

Sponges are remarkable for their structural diversity, ranging from encrusting forms to large, vase-like shapes. This diversity makes them an interesting addition to marine aquariums, especially for hobbyists interested in creating a naturalistic reef environment. They can provide habitat and shelter for various marine organisms, enhancing the biodiversity of the aquarium. However, keeping sponges requires careful attention to water quality and flow, as they are sensitive to pollutants and require a constant supply of plankton or other small particles for sustenance.

In terms of care, sponges should be placed in areas with adequate water movement to ensure they receive enough food. It's crucial to avoid exposing them to air during handling, as air bubbles trapped in their bodies can be fatal. While some species are more resilient, many sponges are best suited for experienced aquarists who can maintain stable and clean water conditions.

Scientifically, sponges are fascinating due to their evolutionary history and biological processes. They are among the oldest known animal groups, with fossil records dating back over 500 million years. Their simple structure and unique cellular organization provide valuable insights into the early biology of multicellular life.

1. Common name: Red Ball Sponge

   Scientific name: Aaptos suberitoides
2. Common name: Cactus Sponge

   Scientific name: Acanthella acuta
3. Common name: Cave Sponge

   Scientific name: Acanthella cavernosa
4. Common name: Klethra Sponge

   Scientific name: Acanthella klethra
5. 
   Common name: Branching Hammer Coral

   Scientific name: Adreus fascicularis
6. 
   Common name: orange elephant ear sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas clathrodes
7. 
   Common name: Brown Tube Sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas conifera
8. Common name: Rough Tube Sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas dispar
9. Common name: Fan Sponge

   Scientific name: Agelas flabelliformis
10. 
    Common name: Slimy Branching Sponge

    Scientific name: Agelas gracilis
11. Common name: Mauritian Sponge

    Scientific name: Agelas mauritiana
12. 
    Common name: Gold Sponge

    Scientific name: Agelas oroides
13. 
    Common name: Elephant Ear Sponge

    Scientific name: Agelas schmidtii
14. 
    Common name: Branching tube sponge

    Scientific name: Aiolochroia crassa
15. Common name: carrot-sponge

    Scientific name: Amphilectus fucorum
16. 
    Common name: erect rope sponge

    Scientific name: Amphimedon compressa
17. 
    Common name: Yellow tube sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina aerophoba
18. 
    Common name: Stove Pipe Sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina archeri
19. 
    Common name: row pore rope sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina cauliformis
20. 
    Common name: Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina cavernicola
21. 
    Common name: Yellow tube sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina fistularis
22. 
    Common name: Stove Pipe Sponge

    Scientific name: Aplysina lacunosa
23. 
    Common name: Yellow Calcareous Sponge

    Scientific name: Arthuria canariensis
24. Common name: Living Fossil Sponge

    Scientific name: Astrosclera willeyana
25. Common name: Aru Sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella aruensis
26. 
    Common name: Axinella cannabina

    Scientific name: Axinella cannabina
27. 
    Common name: yellow sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella damicornis
28. 
    Common name: branching sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella dissimilis
29. Common name: Yellow Sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella flustra
30. 
    Common name: Axinella Polypoides

    Scientific name: Axinella polypoides
31. Common name: Rough Sponge

    Scientific name: Axinella verrucosa
32. Common name: Axinyssa ambrosia

    Scientific name: Axinyssa ambrosia
33. 
    Common name: Branching Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia aculeata
34. 
    Common name: Rope Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia monilata
35. 
    Common name: Branching Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia muricina
36. 
    Common name: Azure Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia plicifera
37. Common name: Reticulated Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia pseudoreticulata
38. Common name: Schulze's Sponge

    Scientific name: Callyspongia schulzei
39. 
    Common name: Blasser Röhrenschwamm

    Scientific name: Callyspongia siphonella
40. 
    Common name: Leaf sponge

    Scientific name: Carteriospongia foliascens
41. 
    Common name: chicken liver sponge

    Scientific name: Chondrilla nucula
42. 
    Common name: Kidney-shaped sponge

    Scientific name: Chondrosia reniformis
43. Common name: Australian Sponge

    Scientific name: Cinachyrella australiensis
44. Common name: Cored Chimney Sponge

    Scientific name: Ciocalypta penicillus
45. 
    Common name: Red Encrusting Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria basilana
46. 
    Common name: Red Tree Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria cervicornis
47. 
    Common name: Curacao Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria curacaoensis
48. 
    Common name: Red Tree Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria macropora
49. 
    Common name: Red Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria mima
50. Common name: Red Tree Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria procera
51. Common name: Reinwardt's Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria reinwardti
52. Common name: Red Sponge

    Scientific name: Clathria tuberosa
53. 
    Common name: yellow Clathrina

    Scientific name: Clathrina clathrus
54. Common name: white lace sponge

    Scientific name: Clathrina coriacea
55. 
    Common name: Caribbean Cliona Sponge

    Scientific name: Cliona caribbaea
56. 
    Common name: Yellow Sponge

    Scientific name: Cliona carteri
57. 
    Common name: boring sponge

    Scientific name: Cliona celata
58. 
    Common name: red boring sponge

    Scientific name: Cliona delitrix
59. Common name: Cliona viridis

    Scientific name: Cliona viridis
60. 
    Common name: Elephant Ear Sponge

    Scientific name: Collospongia auris
61. Common name: Crambe Sponge

    Scientific name: Crambe crambe
62. 
    Common name: Giant Barrel Sponge

    Scientific name: Cribrochalina vasculum
63. 
    Common name: Sponge Coral

    Scientific name: Cymbastela coralliophila
64. 
    Common name: Vase Sponge

    Scientific name: Desmacidon fruticosum
65. Common name: Star Sponge

    Scientific name: Diplastrella megastellata
66. Common name: Reticulate Sponge

    Scientific name: Dragmacidon reticulatum
67. 
    Common name: brown encrusting octopus sponge

    Scientific name: Ectyoplasia ferox
68. Common name: Deadman's Finger sponge

    Scientific name: Halichondria bowerbanki
69. Common name: Yellow Sponge

    Scientific name: Halichondria cartilaginea
70. 
    Common name: Breadcrumb Sponge

    Scientific name: Halichondria panicea
71. 
    Common name: Amboinensis Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona amboinensis
72. 
    Common name: Blue Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona caerulea
73. Common name: Finger Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona cymaeformis
74. 
    Common name: Haliclona fascigera

    Scientific name: Haliclona fascigera
75. Common name: Haliclona Fibulata

    Scientific name: Haliclona fibulata
76. 
    Common name: Mediterranean Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona mediterranea
77. 
    Common name: encrusting turret sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona oculata
78. 
    Common name: Pink Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona rosea
79. Common name: Haliclona simulans

    Scientific name: Haliclona simulans
80. Common name: Haliclona Tubifera

    Scientific name: Haliclona tubifera
81. Common name: Haliclona Urceolus

    Scientific name: Haliclona urceolus
82. Common name: Blue Sponge

    Scientific name: Haliclona viscosa
83. Common name: Blue Sponge

    Scientific name: Halisarca caerulea
84. 
    Common name: Columella Sponge

    Scientific name: Hemimycale columella
85. Common name: Sponge

    Scientific name: Hyattella intestinalis
86. Common name: Hymedesmia paupertas

    Scientific name: Hymedesmia paupertas
87. Common name: crumb-of-bread sponge

    Scientific name: Hymeniacidon perlevis
88. 
    Common name: elephant ear sponge

    Scientific name: Ianthella basta
89. 
    Common name: Elephant Ear Sponge

    Scientific name: Ianthella flabelliformis
90. Common name: Iophon Sponge

    Scientific name: Iophon laevistylus
91. 
    Common name: green finger sponge

    Scientific name: Iotrochota birotulata
92. 
    Common name: Stinker Sponge

    Scientific name: Ircinia campana
93. Common name: Stinker Sponge

    Scientific name: Ircinia felix
94. Common name: black-ball sponge

    Scientific name: Ircinia strobilina
95. Common name: Serpentine Sponge

    Scientific name: Jaspis serpentina
96. Common name: Stellate Sponge

    Scientific name: Jaspis stellifera
97. Common name: Chalk Sponge

    Scientific name: Lamellodysidea herbacea
98. Common name: Dendy's Sponge

    Scientific name: Lendenfeldia dendyi
99. Common name: Lemon sponge

    Scientific name: Leucetta chagosensis
100. 
     Common name: Urn Sponge

     Scientific name: Leucilla nuttingi
101. Common name: Johnston's Sponge

     Scientific name: Leuconia johnstoni
102. Common name: White Sponge

     Scientific name: Leuconia nivea
103. 
     Common name: orange pipe sponge

     Scientific name: Leucosolenia botryoides
104. Common name: Leucosolenia complicata

     Scientific name: Leucosolenia complicata
105. Common name: Leucosolenia eleanor

     Scientific name: Leucosolenia eleanor
106. Common name: Paradox Sponge

     Scientific name: Liosina paradoxa
107. Common name: Sarasin's Pincushion Coral

     Scientific name: Melophlus sarasinorum
108. 
     Common name: Red Encrusting Sponge

     Scientific name: Monanchora arbuscula
109. 
     Common name: Orange Puffball Sponge

     Scientific name: Mycale laevis
110. 
     Common name: Red Beard Sponge

     Scientific name: Mycale laxissima
111. 
     Common name: Red Encrusting Sponge

     Scientific name: Mycale rotalis
112. Common name: Fimbriated Sponge

     Scientific name: Myxilla fimbriata
113. Common name: Rough scallop sponge

     Scientific name: Myxilla incrustans
114. Common name: Rosy Sponge

     Scientific name: Myxilla rosacea
115. Common name: Red Sea Apple

     Scientific name: Negombata corticata
116. 
     Common name: Red Sea Apple

     Scientific name: Negombata magnifica
117. Common name: Touch-Me-Not Sponge

     Scientific name: Neofibularia nolitangere
118. Common name: Red Sponge

     Scientific name: Neopetrosia exigua
119. Common name: Rosario's Sponge

     Scientific name: Neopetrosia rosariensis
120. 
     Common name: Pink Vase Sponge

     Scientific name: Niphates digitalis